Dalton Fire Department Planning EMT Course

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The Fire Department is planning to host an emergency medical technician course.
 
The price of the course is still under negotiation but will be gauged on the area's interest levels, which is being evaluated by Fire Chief James Peltier and the company that will be dong the training.
 
The station hopes to be able to offer this course in-person to the community within the next two months. 
 
Peltier said he has spoken to a lot of people who have expressed interest in the course because, like him, they say they learn better in a face-to-face format. 
 
He said he's spoken to area fire chiefs who have a number of members interested in becoming EMTs. 
 
If the department gets a certain number of people outside of Dalton to sign up, Dalton gets "first dibs on a couple of reduced frequencies," Peltier said. 
 
The class size will be up to 24 people and the eight-week course will be held in the conference room two nights a week and on Saturday.
 
In addition to being in person, Peltier said this is a good opportunity because it is in-house so the department does not have to go out of town to get training or save up to contract with a private ambulance company for two years.

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ServiceNet Warming Center Hosted 126 People This Winter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

ServiceNet manages the warming shelter next to the church. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.

It opened on Dec. 1 in the First United Methodist Church's dining area, next to ServiceNet's 40-bed shelter The Pearl. The agency has seen 126 individuals utilize the warming center and provided some case management to regulars.

While this winter was a success, they are already considering next winter.

"I've been on this committee many years now. There's probably only a few months out of the year that I don't talk about winter, so I'm always trying to plan for next winter," Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.

"We are in this winter and I'm already thinking what's going to happen next winter because I want to be really clear, winter shelter is never a given. We don't have this built into the state budget. It's not built into our budget, so there is always trying to figure out where we get money, and then where do we go with winter shelter."

She pointed out that warming centers are "very different" from shelters, which have a bed. The warming center is set up like a dining room, open from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and folks are welcome to stay for breakfast.

"We are asking people to come in, get warm, be out of the elements," Forbush explained.

The warming center will close on April 30.

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